Email, and the lost art of Communication

[chris vickery]

I figured the Sergeants Mess would be the most appropriate place for a b-fest
concerning emails and guys wanting to sell stuff on the Internet.
Let me lay it out for clarity and start off by saying that no, it had nothing to do with anyone here on the MLU Forum.
I was on another Forum looking at vehicles etc for sale. There was a certain something listed for sale, with a couple pictures. The seller stated a price, and asked interested parties to respond via email or PM for further information, additional pictures etc.
I contacted the seller, asking a few questions at first, trying to open up a dialog of communications. His first few responses were curt, and my questions avoided or not answered entirely. an example if you will;
"It appears that you used brand x paint, colour code a and that the paint is freshly applied..."
The answer, "yes it is green"
The particular item in question is several thousands of dollars, yet the seller not especially forthcoming with answers. To me, this is an automatic Red Flag.
I would expect someone selling something to bend over backwards to make sure a Buyer is fully aware and satisfied with information prior to making a purchase. Understandably we have all encountered "tire kickers and picture collectors" but, if a person has no time to answer questions or treats interested parties like crap in their email, then really, should they even post stuff for sale???
What the H**l is wrong with some people???

[r.morrison]

Robert

[Lynn Eades]

Chris, World population = 7 billion
If average is the middle, then,..... nearly 3.5 billion are below average.

Some of those 3.5 billion are probably living in Canada, just like some are definitely living in my country. (why did my mind go to politicians?)

I think he helped you to weed him off the possibility list. (you quickly smelled the rat,= no more time wasted)

[maple_leaf_eh]

Give the fellow a chance. Not all of us are perfectly at ease in English. Yes, you would think for a country as well-educated as Canada, that either of the two official languages would work. But, 'yes it is green', is clearly a sign of, 'I just want your money and whatever you do with the (insert name here) is your business and your tough luck.'

How many breathless and factually wrong postings are on e-pay? How often have I tried to politely offer helpful corrections or clarifications? Often enough that I been snubbed? Case in point. A fellow in my hometown posted a Vickers pattern MG belt ammo box that was visibly dated in the 1950's and had splotches of civilian paint on it. It was not as described as a DDay across-the-beaches artifact, lovingly dragged from France through the campaigns, only to be returned to Canada and miraculously turning up in this guy's neighbour's garage a half-century later. "He was a veteran don't you know?' The former museum curator of the regiment to which this was "associated" told the guy. I told the guy. I think even EBay told the guy. It stayed posted, but with an insincere disclaimer suggesting he might be wrong and the buyer was on his own.

[chris vickery]

Thanks Terry, I guess I never thought of that.
Maybe my Canadian English confused him.
Shall we say, I was not communicating with a fellow Canadian but a fellow from a different country really close to ours....
I sit here today still in disbelief how someone can advertise products for sale and then expect to cash in with little effort on their part.
We're not talking $5 widgets here neither.
The seller wanted his money, thats it. No assistance with further information, blunt responses, negotiation, outright refusal to assist with loading / shipping / storing etc. Nothing. Take it or leave it. Well, I left it.
I sent him an email afterwards to point out his rather rude attitude to which I was ignored, go figure. Perhaps thats why his item is still up for sale after 8 weeks...

[Lynn Eades]

Chris, you have saved yourself from further grief.
Terry, what about the ones who pick up on the patent date, and advertise the item as made then. You must have run across those ones.